Ruling Party Chief Pledges to Appoint Special Inspector Over First Lady Allegations.

Seoul: Ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon announced his commitment to appointing a special inspector to investigate potential corruption involving the president's family, specifically addressing concerns about allegations related to first lady Kim Keon Hee. Han, representing the People Power Party (PPP), made this declaration during a press conference marking his 100th day in office, emphasizing the necessity of addressing public concerns to advance government reforms in pensions, the medical sector, education, and labor. According to Yonhap News Agency, Han stressed the importance of resolving these issues by the end of November to maintain reform momentum. When questioned about the specific public concerns, Han acknowledged the worries surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee as a significant issue. Kim faces accusations of participating in a stock manipulation scheme, unlawfully accepting a luxury bag, and interfering with candidate nominations for the PPP ahead of the April general elections. These allegation s have posed significant challenges for both the presidential office and the ruling party, prompting Han to urge President Yoon Suk Yeol to appoint a special inspector. The office of the special inspector, established in 2014, is intended to investigate irregularities involving the president's spouse, close relatives, and senior presidential officials but has remained vacant since 2016. Han emphasized the critical role of the special inspector in monitoring and preventing potential abuses of power, stating, "The special inspector is an institution that surveils power and prevents problems from power in advance. That role is absolutely necessary at this moment."